What are you reading right now? (January 2018)

[Kate]

Happy New Year! What comics are you ringing in 2018 with? Are there any series or OGN releases your excited for this year? Did you leave any series behind in 2017?

[Kate]

I just picked up a literal mountain of Star Wars digital comics with Amazon's bundle sales, so that's what's on deck for me. I started with Star Wars: Legacy, Volume 1: Broken. I'm enjoying the story so far, but the art's not for me.

Did any of you jump into the Star Wars comic sales surrounding the movie release too?

[kaitlphere]

I also grabbed quite a few star wars comics I need to read!

My main plan is to catch up on my backlog. I have Mirror, She Hulk, Thor, and Saga I want to read soon. I already re-read/finished Godshaper this month, and I'm about to finish Misfit City!

[Wayland]

This week's comic pull:

X-Men Gold Annual 1-a reunion of the original Excalibur members, and Meggan had a baby!
Titans 19- the League wants to shut down the Titans, and Roy goes into solo action against Intergang.
Suicide Squad 33- Focusing on a new and minor member of the team.
Ms. Marvel 26- The Inventor is back, but Kamala still isn't.
Harley Quinn Be Careful What You Wish For- Harley gets a genie. What could possibly go wrong?
Harley Quinn 34- end of an era as Conner and Palmiotti turn in their last issue.
Detective 972- things get worse as Clayface is corrupted and the team is losing allies.
Batgirl and the Birds of Prey 18- off to Paris to do a job for Spyral.
Black Lightning: Cold Dead Hands 3- things are looking bad for just about everyone.
Avengers: No Surrender- Part one of a massive all-Avenger team up bringing back Living Lightning among other characters.

[Kate]

How is X-Men Gold going Wayland? I read volume one, but haven't been able to read any since then.

[Wayland]

I'm enjoying it. It's almost the classic team, minus the substitution of I-Can't-Believe-It's-Not-Logan. That line up has a special place in my heart.

[Mike, Host & Producer of IRCB!]

Wayland wrote: "I'm enjoying it. It's almost the classic team, minus the substitution of I-Can't-Believe-It's-Not-Logan. That line up has a special place in my heart."

lmao this is the best way to name Old Man Logan.

[Nick]

I just finally got around to the final issue of Aliens: Dead Orbit last night. There are certain books that one shouldn't read when sleep is right around the corner (not because of anything nightmare-involved, but rather the inability to give it the focus it requires), and I forgot that this book falls in that category. Past issues have also embraced a past/present "back and forth" narrative, but the sections seem to not be delineated as cleanly as in past issues, with faint color palette changes acting as a subtle cue.

Did I mention we should have had this issue months ago anyway? The delays used to make me slightly irate, but with a little perspective, I came to respect Dark Horse for allowing James Stokoe to have sole creative control over this miniseries. I'm not saying that "one-man-band" issues are always indicators of quality, but they're such a rarity with larger-scale "deadline-oriented" publishers, that one can't help but notice them.

Beyond that, I've been slowly chipping away at Legends of the Dark Knight: Jim Aparo Vol 1. Paul has always spoken highly of Aparo's pencils (I think Paul even went as far as to label his take on Batman as his favorite), so when this volume (regularly $35) went on sale for $5, I felt it was worth a look-see.

And boy, howdy, is it some insane level fare! Starting off with Aparo's work on Brave and the Bold (a bonkers Batman rotational team-up title), it begins with Batman partnering with Phantom Stranger to battle a coven of witches and possibly the Dark Lord himself? That's followed by a story with a nod to Hitchcock's Rear Window, as Batman's confined to a wheelchair after a sniper's bullet lands a little too close for comfort. Awaiting a specialist surgeon to fly to Gotham to operate, Batman must coordinate Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Black Canary and Robin to stop a heroin shipment, while holed up at home. It's a goofy and fun series that doesn't take itself too seriously, and Aparo's art holds up, over forty-five years later.

[Kate]

Wayland wrote: "I'm enjoying it. It's almost the classic team, minus the substitution of I-Can't-Believe-It's-Not-Logan. That line up has a special place in my heart."

This is what I'm calling him from now on. So perfect!

[Kate]

I've been reading Star Wars: Legacy, Volume 1: Broken, which I picked up in a Star Wars sale bundle on Amazon Kindle. I'm enjoying it so far, though it's very different than the Marvel Star Wars titles I'm use to.

It also got me thinking that we should have a sales thread, so I've started one over here. If you see a good comics sale, please share!

[Paul]

Nick wrote: "Beyond that, I've been slowly chipping away at Legends of the Dark Knight: Jim Aparo Vol 1. Paul has always spoken highly of Aparo's pencils (I think Paul even went as far as to label his take on Batman as his favorite), so when this volume (regularly $35) went on sale for $5, I felt it was worth a look-see."
Yes, Jim Aparo is my favorite Batman artist. That's probably due to reading The Untold Legend of the Batman religiously as a kid. Aparo's work is a great example of "Bronze Age" superhero art: clearly influenced by Neal Adams, but with a smoother, more expressive line.
And yes, those Bob Haney/Jim Aparo Brave and the Bold comics are a lot of fun: over-the-top and zany in the best possible way.

[Wayland]

Aparo did awesome art. His Batman is great, and I'll associate him with Batman and the Outsiders.

[Paul]

Just finished rereading The End of the Fucking World to prepare myself for the Netflix adaptation.
Charles Forsman's newest book, I Am Not Okay With This, is next on my 'to read' list.

[Kate]

That's my plan before watching it too, Paul. What did you think of it?

[Paul]

I loved it when I first read it a few years ago, and it was interesting to revisit it knowing the ending. This time I focused on the pacing: Forsman has a very deliberate, almost meditative style of storytelling that works well in a comic, and I wonder how it will translate to TV.

[Daniel]

Nick wrote: "I just finally got around to the final issue of Aliens: Dead Orbit last night. There are certain books that one shouldn't read when sleep is right around the corner (not because of anything nightma..."

Awww man Dead Orbit was amazing!
I can’t believe sometimes that one person can write and do art but Stokoe manages it

[Daniel]

Some stuff I have read this new year...

Justice League/Power Rangers
Eternal Warrior, Volume 1: Sword of the Wild
X-Men Gold, Vol. 3: Mojo Worldwide X-Men Crossover between team Blue and Gold
WWE Vol. 1
WWE Vol. 2: Lunatic Fringe
WWE Vol. 3: Roman Empire read these inspired by Paul and Rene’s wresting comics episode
Shadowman, Volume 1: Birth Rites
Shadowman, Volume 2: Darque Reckoning
Shadowman, Volume 3: Deadside Blues
Quantum and Woody Vol. 1: The World's Worst Superhero Team (Quantum and Woody
Weapon X Vol. 2: The Search for Weapon H
Avengers & Champions: Worlds Collide
Spidey, Volume 1: First Day
Justice League of America Vol. 2: Curse of the Kingbutcher
Justice League, Volume 3: Timeless (I have tried to read every volume of JL since rebirth came out since this has been a book i’ve Read since 2012 but I can’t get to finish them, hopefully the new team in Volume 5 can get me back in the book

[Kate]

Daniel wrote: "Some stuff I have read this new year...

Justice League/Power Rangers
Eternal Warrior, Volume 1: Sword of the Wild
X-Men Gold, Vol. 3: Mojo Worldwide..."

WOW that's a lot! How was X-Men Gold Vol 3? Are you also reading X-Men Blue?

[Kate]

I just finished Mis(h)adra, which is about a college student struggling to manage his chronic health condition while in school and coming to terms with everything he's lost because of it, so it cut a little close to the bone for me.

The color work is incredible, and I'd recommend this OGN to anyone on that basis alone. The pencils reminded me of Bryan Lee O'Malley, who maybe not so coincidentally also has a recommendation on the front cover of this book. The narration style is manga-like, which I don't enjoy as much, but was done well.

[Wayland]

This week's comic pull:

Avengers 677- the big attack on the Avengers continues with a focus on Quicksilver being annoyed. As usual
Blue Beetle 17- the end of the road trip from hell.
Detective 973- Can the team stop the out of control Clayface?
Luke Cage 169- finally breaking free from the Ringmaster's control
Suicide Squad 34- part two of a story focusing on a minor pawn in Waller's game
Doomsday Clock 3- Batman meets the new Rorschach and we get to see a face from the past.
Justice League of America 23-the team fights the evil queen.
Shadow 6- the end of the miniseries with The Shadow in the modern age.

[Daniel]

Kate wrote: "Daniel wrote: "Some stuff I have read this new year...

Justice League/Power Rangers
Eternal Warrior, Volume 1: Sword of the Wild
[book:X-Men Gold, Vol. 3: Mojo Worl..."

I am reading all the X-Men books (because I am a trash person) and overall I like all the books, they are very different and although I would rather keep Generation x and Iceman I can see why they are keeping the Team books and adding X-Men red
The Mojoverse crossover had so many fanboy moments, made it very enjoyable (to me at least)

I am reading a lot of this once it hits !arvel Unlimited or borrowing because I can’t afford al, the books lol